The following Extracts from the Reports of the Examiners will show the character of the Examination, and may be useful guides to future Candidates.

Mathematics.-Rev. Canon Heaviside, M.A.

I consider the result very satisfactory, especially so far as respects Section I, which comprises those subjects on which alone a sound Mathematical knowledge can be founded. In this part of the Examination there is a great improvement upon the result of the Examination of January last, but then that Examination had fallen slightly below that of July, 1864, and I now find a marvellous approximation to coincidence between the results of the Summer Examinations of 1864 and 1865. I ventured in July, 1864, to hazard an opinion that we had probably reached an average with respect to the proficiency of the Candidates; and although the Examination of January, 1865, seemed to indicate a slight retrogression, yet the Examination just concluded fully bears out my anticipations.

It may be satisfactory to the Council to specify details, and it will be remembered that I speak of my own marks only, without reference to those of my colleague.

In January, 1865, 122 Candidates sent up papers in Section I, and the average marks obtained by each were 423.

2 Candidates obtained 700 marks and upwards.

Of these

7222

17

25

30

17

In July, 1865, 114 Candidates sent up papers in Section I, and the average marks obtained amounted to 457·5. Of these

In July, 1864,-with which the Examination just concluded coincides most nearly in its results-there were 115 Candidates, and the average number of marks obtained was 460 8. Of these

In July, 1865, 50 Caadidates obtained half-marks and npwards, or 44 per cent. In July, 1864, 48 Candidates obtained half-marks and upwards, or nearly 42 per cent.

I feel sure that these Examinations are securing a good Mathematical grounding in nearly half the Candidates that present themselves; and from the present list 40 Candidates can hardly fail to be secured whose Mathematical attainments will enable them, without difficulty, to complete the course prescribed at Woolwich in the assigned time.

When I pass from the subjects of Section I to those of Section II, and to the Mixed Mathematics, I do not feel so satisfied of the result. A few of the Candidates, indeed, such as on this occasion (Nos. 17, 22, 80, 81, 122), have shown considerable powers in mastering the higher subjects, but I am impressed with the conviction that the greater number of the Candidates have read them to very little effect, and the marks, low as they are on the average, are generally obtained by writing imperfectly on a number of questions, rather than by doing a few of the questions well. The maximum of marks assigned to me for distribution are 750, and of these only 6 Candidates obtained 350 marks and upwards, and the present Examination represents no falling off on the two preceding. The Candidates now are certainly not well grounded in mechanical principles, and few of them are entitled by their previous preparation to advance into the differential calculus.

Mathematics. Rev. W. N. Griffin, M.A.

The subjoined Tabular Statement of marks will exhibit the principal results which I have to present for your attention.

In Section I. the Candidates, with some exceptions, are all satisfactory; while in Section II and in Mixed Mathematics there are few of them who have gained any considerable credit. The papers given in to me are, on the whole, clearly written and

well arranged, and show that the valuable discipline of "writing

The circumstance of the Candidates usually gaining the bulk of their Mathematical marks in the First Section is worth attention, in its bearing on the results of reading for Woolwich, in the case of Candidates who fail to gain admission. The Examination hall is filled with students, of whom a large number will, we know, miss the object for which they have been giving no inconsiderable time at an important part of life. Will these rejected Candidates have to regret this time as ill-spent, and turn, it may be, to another profession with nothing but a mortifying remembrance of unproductive work? I believe that they need have no such feeling in their disappointment, and for this reason, that their marks are principally gained in those parts of Mathematics which are in no wise special or technical, but are the elements of a good liberal education. Few Candidates have read the more advanced parts of Mathematics to an extent which ought to have disturbed the balance in general intellectual progress. I trust, therefore, that unsuccessful Candidates will have comfort in believing that although their immediate object of admission into Woolwich is not gained, they are in every way better for the Mathematics which they have read for this purpose; and although their duties henceforth may not call Mathematical knowledge into use so directly as the scientific service of the Army does, yet they have undergone a mental discipline likely to make them more able and useful men for the rest of their lives.

Classics.-Rev. George Rawlinson, M.A.

The recent Examination for Admission to Woolwich, so far as it has come under my notice, is chiefly remarkable for the large amount of fairly good work which it produced, combined with the absence of any work indicating really high scholarship.

The greatest number of marks obtained by any Candidate was, in Latin 480, and in Greek 475; whereas, on most recent occasions a maximum of 500 or 550 has been obtained in each of these subjects by the best Candidate. On the other hand, the number of complete failures has been extremely small (only 6 in Latin, and only 3 in Greek), and the proportion of Candidates who have done well has been unusually large. In Latin "half-marks" (375) have been obtained by 20 per cent. of the Candidates, and in Greek by 6 per cent.; whereas, in January last the proportions were respectively 15 per cent. and 3 per cent., and in July of last year they were 12 per cent. and 5 per cent. One-third of the marks, double the necessary number, has been obtained in Latin by 59 per cent., and in Greek by 32 per cent.-the proportion in January last having been 58 per cent. and 10 per cent.; in July, 1864, 35 per cent. and 20 per cent.

The Grammar is no longer the weak point of the work. Candidates now are in general very fairly grounded, and answer plain grammatical questions well. But they seldom translate with accuracy; and their composition, whether Greek or Latin, does them but little credit. The ordinary fault is an extreme literalness, which renders the composition in the highest degree stiff and unscholarlike.

Latin.-Rev. O. Gordon, B.D.

The account I have to give of this paper is not very favourable. Very few Candidates seem to have understood the Cicero, though it is a very simple passage from the "De Officiis;" neither could I give much value to the Composition when attempted, which it was in few instances only.

Greek.-Rev. O Gordon, B.D.

I regret to have to make a bad report of this paper. The average of marks is extremely low, and I am unable to give a large proportion of the men the minimum number. Greek prose is better done generally than Greek verse; and it is to be hoped that there may be some compensation in some cases. A great many of the translations are absolute nonsense, though the passages set are extremely easy-easier, in fact, than they generally are.

English Language, History, and Geography.-
G. W. Dasent, Esq., D.C.L.

The result of the recent Examination in all these subjects I consider to be very satisfactory. Higher marks have been gained in each subject than any set of Candidates have ever

C

gained before. There were fewer failures, and there was a much greater proportion of exercises in English, History, and Geography, which may be classed as good.

English Language.-W. Stebbing, Esq., M.A.

The English Composition is of respectable quality. Several, indeed, of the Essays on the Second Subject show considerable power both of thought and of expression.

I am well satisfied with the answers to the Grammar Questions, particularly with those to numbers 5, 3, and 6. Numbers 4, 8, and 7 have also been answered fairly. The spelling, generally, is correct.

History.-W. Stebbing, Esq., M.A.

Although no remarkably good papers have been written on this subject, the general level is extremely high. I fact, I do not remember any Examination for admission to Woolwich at which there have been fewer bad sets of answers.

Commonly, all the ten questions have been attempted, and with fair success. The best answers, perhaps, are those to numbers 8, 4, and 5; but 3, 1, 2, 6, and 7 also have very often been well done,

Geography.-W. Stebbing, Esq., M.A.

The Candidates have now in some measure acquired a habit of preparing systematically for the Examination in Geography. Formerly their conception of the demands of the subject seems to have been considerably vague.

The answers to my paper (excepting a very wide-spread impression to the effect that Bessarabia is the southern portion of Arabia), are, in general, fairly accurate. The maps of South America and Europe are particularly satisfactory, especially as compared with previous attempts of the same kind. In the rest of the paper, Questions 6, 8, 7, and 9 have been often answered very well.

French.-Monsieur Esquiros.

This Examination includes in its scope various Exercises, which are very differently achieved by Candidates. Writing from dictation was this time either good or tolerable, according to individual merits; translation of French into English, satisfactory; and composition (translation of English into French), not discreditable. But it would be idle to dwell upon the parts of the work eliciting some abilities. I feel it my duty to point out at once the two subjects in which most Candidates are specially deficient.

I have so often complained of bad preparation in grammar that I am afraid of being charged with a dissatisfied turn of